ROCHDALE manager Steve Parkin will remind his players ahead of tonight's Lancashire derby against Bury that even in the festive season, charity must begin at home.

After a barnstorming start to the season, the Spotland club's push for a League Two play-off position has been temporarily derailed by a depressing sequence four successive defeats.

And Parkin has warned his players that they will have to forget all about being good neighbours when they entertain Chris Casper's Shakers if they are to get their stuttering campaign back on track.

"This is a big match for us - and not simply because it's a local derby," said Parkin.

"We have slipped down the table in recent weeks but tonight's game gives us the ideal opportunity to repair some of the damage.

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"I think it's worth pointing out that by the time we reach the end of the holiday fixtures at the start of January, we will have played eight of the top teams in this division in the space of nine matches, so that might explain to a point why our results have dried up.

"I wasn't happy with the way the team had been performing up to Monday's match against Wrexham where we should never have lost.

"The whole game turned on the penalty given to Wrexham just before half-time when we were leading 1-0.

"Not one person either in the stands or out on the pitch - other than the officials - believed that penalty should have been given but it was, and it changed the entire course of the match.

"But at least there were a lot of positives to be taken out of that defeat and I'll be looking for the same attitude and commitment from the players against Bury tonight.

"There is always something a bit special about a local derby.

"We will have a good crowd and a good atmosphere and I think we will be in for a smashing game of football.

"When it comes to a play-off position, we are still definitely not out of the mix.

"There is only one point between ourselves and Wrexham in fourth place so the importance of a victory against our close neighbours tonight hardly needs to be emphasised."

Rochdale will again be without their suspended leading marksman Grant Holt, while Parkin has yet to decide who will replace centre-back Gareth Griffiths, who suffered a back injury during Monday's unlucky 2-1 defeat at Wrexham.

Shakers' boss Casper is likely to stand by the team which lost in disappointing fashion against Grimsby at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day to take the shine off the memorable victory in their previous home game when they inflicted the first defeat of the season on League Two leaders Wycombe.

Despite being in control for most of the game, Bury saw a 1-0 lead snatched away by the second-placed Mariners.